DOTS therapy (CAT-1) is provided for the period of?

Appeared in: IGIMS Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

DOTS Category I is the standard treatment regimen for new, previously untreated cases of tuberculosis.
The total duration of this short-course chemotherapy is 6 months.
This regimen is divided into a 2-month Intensive Phase (IP) to rapidly reduce the bacterial load and a 4-month Continuation Phase (CP) to eliminate any remaining bacteria and prevent relapse.
The drug combination for the IP is Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol (HRZE).
The drug combination for the CP is Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Ethambutol (HRE).

Option B: A 7-month duration is not a standard regimen for any of the primary DOTS categories under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).
Option C: An 8-month treatment duration is characteristic of DOTS Category II, not Category I.
Option D: While some older or specialized TB regimens could extend to 9 months, the standard short-course therapy for new cases (Category I) is 6 months.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Duration of DOTS Category I therapy for Tuberculosis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
The 'Directly Observed' component of DOTS is a critical nursing function to ensure patient adherence, which is the cornerstone of preventing the development of drug-resistant TB.
Nurses play a vital role in patient education, explaining the importance of completing the full 6-month course, even if symptoms improve earlier, to ensure a complete cure and prevent relapse.
A key nursing responsibility is monitoring for adverse drug reactions, especially liver toxicity (from H, R, Z) and visual changes (from E), and providing supportive care.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question: 'DOTS therapy' and 'CAT-1'.
Recall that DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) is the standard strategy for TB control.
Recognize that 'CAT-1' or Category I specifically refers to the treatment regimen for new, previously untreated TB patients.
Access your knowledge of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) guidelines, which define the treatment durations for different patient categories.
Differentiate the 6-month regimen for new cases (Category I) from the longer 8-month regimen used for previously treated cases (Category II).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 28-30

Practise the full IGIMS Staff Nurse - 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.